Frank Kratovil

State's Attorney Frank KratovilState’s Attorney Frank Kratovil (D-Stevensville) is criticizing his MD-1 opponent’s commitment to protecting Ocean City’s beaches. The criticism comes just a day after state Sen. Andy Harris (R-Cockeysville) told a crowd at a fundraiser Tuesday to “just say no to earmarks.”

“Ocean City’s beaches are a billion-dollar economic engine that generate thousands of jobs for hard-working Maryland families,” said Kratovil in a statement.

EASTON – Former Lt. Gov. Michael Steele (R) joined state Sen. Andy Harris (R-Cockeysville) for a fundraiser last night in Easton. The cost of admission to the Denny family’s house party was $250 for couples. VIP entrance was priced at $1,000, which included a photo with Steele.

The former lieutenant governor and chair of GOPAC opened the event for Harris. He began by praising key Republican operatives.

“It’s important work, its hard work. Particularly in this climate, in which the Republican brand quite frankly sucks,” Steele said. “I mean it stinks, it’s ugly, it’s painful, but in all that I see opportunity.”

If you take a historical look at the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee’s upgrade of the First district’s Frank Kratovil to their Red-to-Blue program two weeks ago, you may find yourself asking, ‘Why?’

Because outside of a self-funder or war hero, rookie candidates in red districts don’t get this kind of national attention.

Tim McCann, state's Attorney Frank Kratovil’s (D-Stevensville) new campaign manager, told PolitickerMD.com that his addition to the campaign is not part of a big change or a drastic shift in direction.

McCann, who was brought on board to the Kratovil campaign last week, will take over on Tuesday. Kratovil’s former campaign manager, volunteer Marie Duffield, will begin focusing on field operations according to Erik Gulbrandsen, the campaign’s spokesperson.

“All campaign staffs grow as you approach election day,” McCann said in an interview with PolitickerMD.com. “My role is to come in and focus the operation.”

State's Attorney Frank KratovilState’s Attorney Frank Kratovil (D-Stevensville) has hired a new campaign manager in his bid to win Maryland’s 1st Congressional District in November. Tim McCann will take over July 1 and will replace volunteer Marie Duffield, who will begin focusing on field operations.

Erik Gulbrandsen, Kratovil’s spokesman, told PolitickerMD.com that McCann “brings to the table a whole lot of experience in new media marketing,” which Gulbrandsen said is something the campaign hadn’t focused much on in the past.

State Sen. Andy Harris (R-Cockeysville) is applauding a U.S. Supreme Court decision handed down Thursday morning, which struck down Washington, D.C.’s controversial ban on hand guns and reaffirmed the rights U.S. citizens have to own firearms under the Second Amendment.

“Today's ruling is a victory for individual rights and personal liberty,” Harris said in a statement. “Gun-grabbing liberals should take note that the Constitution clearly states Americans have the right to own firearms and the Supreme Court reaffirmed that today.”

Congressional candidate Frank KratovilState's Attorney Frank Kratovil (D-Stevensville) will be fundraising in Washington this afternoon for his campaign for the 1st Congressional District with the help of the state's Democratic congressional delegation. Guests include U.S. Sens. Barbara Mikulski (D-Baltimore) and Ben Cardin (D-Baltimore), U.S. Reps. Elijah Cummings (D-Baltimore), Dutch Ruppersberger (D-Cockeysville) and John Sarbanes (D-Towson) plus U.S. Reps. Steny Hoyer (D-Mechanicsville), the House majority leader, and Chris Van Hollen (D-Kensington), the chairman of the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee.

ANNAPOLIS – Gov. Martin O’Malley swore in Judge Sally Adkins to the Court of Appeals Wednesday, Maryland’s highest court. Also attending the ceremony were state House Speaker Michael E. Busch (D-Annapolis), Comptroller Peter Franchot (D-Takoma Park) and state's Attorney Frank Kratovil (D-Stevensville). Kratovil is currently running for congress in MD-1.

Gov. O’Malley praised Adkins. “I know that you will carry the high standards with you that you established at the Court of Special Appeals, and take that to the Court of Appeals,” he said.

The Talbot and Dorcester Republican Central Committees celebrated the grand opening of their new headquarters on Tuesday.

Both events were attended by state party Chairman James Pelura, state party Communications Director Justin Ready, former Gov. Bob Ehrlich and state Sen. Andy Harris among other party leaders. Harris and Ehrlich were on a day long tour of the 1st Congressional District, campaigning and raising money for Harris’ race against state's Attorney Frank Kratovil (D-Stevensville).